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As we begin to get older, some of us start to worry about grey hair, wrinkly skin and maintaining a healthy youthful physique. But one of the biggest signs of ageing is forgotten about – and that’s our voice. The voice muscles like all of our muscles need looking after, with many people over 65 suffering from voice problems and others left sounding older than they actually are.

Voice is produced by many different workings in the upper body. To form the sound of voice that we are familiar with, the muscles of the abdominal wall and rib cage squeeze the lungs, making them exhale breath. When airflow comes up the windpipe it passes through the vocal cords, causing them to vibrate creating a buzzing noise. At the same time, the larynx – or voice box as it commonly known – adjusts the tension of the chord producing pitch.

As you get older, these vital tissues become tired. But something as simple as singing in the shower every day can help decrease the speed of the ageing process. This is one of the best ways to help preserve your voice, as it keeps the laryx muscles strong whilst the steam lubricates the voice box.

“Singing is gymnastics for voice” states Dr Andrew McCombe. “The control and neuro-muscular co-ordination you need means the voice is being used in a good way.” Joining a choir is one of the best ways to preserve a youthful tone, says Dr McCoombe. “Professional singers voices take longer to age as they muscles strong.”

So maintaining your youth may be as easy as belting out a few power ballads in the shower, just before your start your day.

A new campaign being launched for Water Aid 2013 has been brought to our attention in the form of a neat new video shown below!

WaterAid, one of Glastonbury Festival’s official charities, is asking everyone to sign a petition in order to pressure world leaders into making sure that everyone everywhere has safe water and sanitation by 2030. As quoted from marketing agency the 7th Chamber:

This film will be shown on the screens at Glastonbury and in the run up to the festival we are trying to get as many people talking about the petition as we can!

The start of a New Year can mean new beginnings for many people in their own different ways. A common NY resolution involves some sort of “naughty” food being banished from the cupboards for as long as you can mentally bear it. Others include squeezing in more exercise, cutting down on drinking, and of course the classic – losing weight. Healthy targets such as these are great for your well-being short-term, but it’s the long term changes that really make the difference.

February brings more than just another month – Seasonal produce that you’ll see in most supermarkets will begin to offer some of the best nourishment the winter month has to offer. Below are our top four foods that are guaranteed to add a seasonal flavour to any dish:

Artichokes

Often overlooked by many, the humble artichoke is often left behind due to the daunting preparation methods required. Don’t be put off – once you start peeling back the layers, you’ll realise it’s a lot easier than you think. This vegetable is high in nutritional value, and can be very tasty when prepared properly. Artichoke is packed with antioxidants to help defend against illness, whilst providing cyanic properties to help ward off cholesterol. Serve as a side salad mixed with pesto and a generous squeeze of lemon – delicious!

Cockles

Bare with us on this one – the typical British seaside snack really doesn’t appeal to the majority. The truth is the pocket-sized cockle is rich in Omega 3 which has been proven to help protect the heart. They’re naturally low in calories, whilst being rich in vitamin B12 which literally translates to “brain food” to you and me. Steam them mixed into pasta or use them liberally in your next fish pie.

Kale

The rich deep greens of Kale play into the often spoken rule “if it’s green then it’s good for you.” Kale is a perfect example of a winter super food sprouting from the cabbage family with an endlist list of benefits. Packed with natural sources of calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium, Kale is great for your hair, teeth, skin and bones. Serve steamed as a side dish or drop into soups & stews for added nutrients.

Grapefruit

Certainly not a typical addition to a winter list of super foods the grapefruit isn’t just for those looking to cut out unwanted calories. This juicy fleshed fruit can be found in a variety of colours, naturally low in calories making it a perfect kick starter for your metabolism. Eat it on it’s own or get creative – it works great with a leafy nutty salad!

What superfoods do you look forward to you in the fall of Winter / Sprout of Spring? Tweet us or get in touch! @healthyhideout

Losing weight has been touched upon by countless articles, blogs, newspapers and magazines detailing how you can do lots of different things in order to shift the excess fat around your midrift. At the Healthy Hideout we believe there is no miracle cure or magic serum that you take one morning, to find yourself waking up a pound lighter the next day.

Losing weight requires serious dedication from you and you only – that’s the only way you’re going to see serious changes. If you change your attitude towards wanting to lose weight, and actually believing that you can, you’ve got a higher chance of seeing some changes. Easier said than done right? It’s probably why a lot of people invest into personal trainers who shout nothing but confidence boosting (or breaking) statements in your general direction for 60 minutes. It doesn’t work for everyone though.

There are many programs that work for people out there, such as the “Burn the Fat” program at http://www.burnthefat.com. These guys have a proven track record with thousands of satisfied customers who’ve seen the program reap huge results for them personally.

But when it comes to losing weight, you can often find solid results come from sticking to the 3 Main Principles of Losing Weight. It doesn’t get much simpler than this:

Decrease calorie intake – If you’re eating more than 2000 calories a day (2500 calories for men) then you’re eating more than the recommended daily intake or RDA. By eating more than your body needs, your body will look to store the excess energy as fat.

Increase calorie burn – After maintaining your calorie intake, it’s important to increase your amount of calorie. This is done through exercise, and unfortunately there’s really no other way. Try to commit yourself to at least 30 minutes a day for the best results.

Cut down on the bad stuff – This is the most obvious of the three, but it’s important to make extra effort to cut out all the bad stuff from your diet. This includes fizzy sugary drinks, confectionery, chocolate, pastries,baked goods, fast food – the list can go out. Cut out the bad stuff and you’ll see some serious results. You’ll feel better too!

Are you currently losing weight or participating in a weight loss program? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or follow us on twitter: @healthyhideout

Keeping yourself looking trim and tidy has plenty of benefits, from making you feel better psychologically, to the obvious benefit of being taken seriously or physically attracted to by others. Many of us live very hectic lifestyles often not finding any “me” time, but it can’t be stressed enough how important it is to spend time on yourself. It’ll do wonders for your being both long term and short term! Who knows, if you’re single and looking you may find it increases your chances almost ten fold.

Good grooming requires a good shaving kit!

Here are the Healthy Hideout’s top grooming tips:

Vegatables are your friend – It may seem an obvious card to pull, but in addition to all the vitamins and minerals, vegetables such as spinich, swiss chard and kale are packed with chlorophyll – a natural deodorant for the body. Munching on raw organic carrots can also help to keep your teeth looking clean and healthy.

After the shower is best – When you jump out of the shower or bath, your skin will be moist and more susceptible to absortion. Apply deodorants or antiperspirants at this time to ensure that the active ingredients have the best affect. Be sure to stick to alcohol free options to ensure that you don’t dry out your skin.

Look after your razors – If you find yourself constantly buying new razors for the morning shave, it may be worth introducing a small containers of mineral oil to your medical cabinet. The oil helps to stop the oxidation process that dull the edges, eventually rendering them useless. Be sure to clean the blade properly before use!

Go for the natural soothe – It may odd at first, but if your skin is easily irritated during or after a shave, try rubbing a small amount of olive oil into the affected area. If you do this before shaving, you’ll find that it helps the blade run smoothly across the skin.

Time running out? – If you need to make that meeting, or you’re late for a friend with no time to jump in the shower, here’s one that’s worked for everyone at the Healthy Hideout. Take a sink full of clean warm water and add four to five tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda, mixing throughly. Soak a clean flannel and rub yourself down before drying. It may seem desperate, but when time is of the essence it can be a lifesaver.

Keep Hydrated – It’s been mentioned plenty of times on the Healthy Hideout, but keeping your water intake regular can have a positive effect on how your skin looks. For more information, head over to our previous post “How much water should I drink a day?”

A questions that is sent to the Healthy Hideout more often than most is “How much water should I drink a day?”

Past studies have shown that we simply don’t drink enough water in order to maintain good health. Although we take in a lot more water than we think from the food we eat, and includes that early morning cup of tea, it’s still important to drink water throughout the day.

Balance is key

It’s important to not drink too much water as this can be dangerous. Drinking excessive amounts of water can lead to water intoxication, in which the water content of the blood is increased causing salt content to become diluted. Consequently this lack of salt can lead to severe problems with the brain, heart and muscle operation.

So do you think your drinking too much?

Initial signs of over drinking include headaches and confusion, but these symptoms are very similar to those caused by dehydration. The only true way to understand your hydration levels is to keep track of your water intake – You could be drinking too little or you’re drinking far too much.

How much should you be drinking?

The British Dietetic Associations states that the average adult should look to consume around 2.5 litres per day – just under 4 pints. Furthermore, this amount will change depending on climate and physical activity. If you’re planning to jog around the block on a hot summers day, then take more water into account.

So how much water do you drink each day? Are you giving your body what it needs?